Strand control apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method embodied in a guide for an advancing strand of yarn. The guide retains the strand on a receiver which is supported on a cushion of air. The receiver is pivotally retained between opposed members extending from a base of the guide. The strand urges the receiver toward the base and the cushion of air, which is introduced between the members proximate the base, urges the receiver away from the base. As the air is vented about the receiver the advancing strand is substantially out of contact with the air to prevent removal of coatings from the strand or entanglement of filaments of the strand. Response of the receiver to variations in the force exerted thereon by the strand may be programmed by regulating venting of the air about the receiver.

ilnited States. Patent Bense [4 1 June 27, 1972 [54] STRAND CONTROLAPPARATUS Primary ExaminerStanley N. Gilreath 72 I t Willi B t l 1 menor am M ense Baltrmg R I Attorney-Albert P. Davis and Burnett W. Norton[73] Assignee: Leesona Corporation, Warwick, R.I. 22 Filed: Sept. 8,1970 [57] ABSTRACT An a aratus and a method embodied in a uide for anad- 21 A 1.N 70004 PP 8 1 pp vancing strand of yarn. The guide retainsthe strand on a receiver which is supported on a cushion of air. Thereceiver is [52] US. Cl "242/45, 242/147 A, 242/157 R pivotally retainedbetween opposed members extending from --Bh a base of the guide Thetrand urges the receiver toward the [58] new Search "242/45, 147 147 R1147 base and the cushion of air, which is introduced between the 242/15775-53; 226/ 198 members proximate the base, urges the receiver away fromthe base. As the air is vented about the receiver the advancing [56]References Cited strand is substantially out of contact with the air toprevent UNITED STATES PATENTS removal of coatings from the strand orentanglement of filaments of the strand. Response of the receiver tovariations in FOSIBI' fit X the force exerted thereon the trand may beprogrammed PaWlOWSkl regulating venting ofthe air about the receiver3,314,619 4/1967 Kerstetter ..242/147 R 3,351,296 11/1967 Frei ..242/l47M X 18 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures STRAND CONTROL APPARATUS This inventionrelates generally to strand handling apparatus and, more particularly,to apparatus and a method for guiding a strand.

As used herein the term yarn" means any type of strandular material,whether textile or otherwise.

The invention is related to a Strand Control Apparatus disclosed in aLeesona Corporation U.S. Pat. No. 3,393,880, granted July 23, 1968; andto co-pending Lessona Corporation U.S. Pat. applications, Ser. No.712,142, filed Mar. 11, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,534,922, Ser. No.3,580, filed Jan. 8, 1970, and Ser. No. 37,442, filed May 15, 1970 andthis patent and these applications are incorporated by reference.

The above indicated patent and applications are directed to a yarn guidewhich supports an advancing'strand of yarn on a cushion of air. As thestrand passes through the guide, the cushion of air causes the strand toarch so that variations in the tension of the strand result invariations in the shape of the arch, increasing tension tending toflatten the arch and reduced tension resulting in a deeper arch. Suchguides are particularly useful on compensator arms of high speed take-upmachines for counteracting fluctuations in yarn tension resulting fromtraversing of the yarn as it is wound onto a take-up package. Otherwise,such fluctuations might be reflected in erratic and unwanted movement ofthe compensator arm. Ad-

ditionally, guiding or supporting the advancing strand on a cushion ofair is particularly advantageous in false twist heaters since suchguides permit the yarn to be directed in a circuitous path through theheater and the twist to pass about the guides, thus substantiallyshortening the overall heater length which would be required to obtainthe same length of yarn heating path in a straight through heater. Theseand other advantages are more fully discussed in the previously notedpatent. It is desirable to conserve compressed air, or other fluid whichprovides the cushion, and to prevent unwanted release of the strand ofyarn from the guide, and these matters are discussed at greater lengthin the co-pending application Ser. No. 712,142.

The invention is, in brief, directed to apparatus for handling anadvancing strand supported on a fluid cushion and maintainedsubstantially out of direct contact with the fluid cushion. Moreparticularly, the strand is supported on a receiver which is supportedon the cushion. Response of the receiver to the force exerted thereon bythe strand may be programmed.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improvedapparatus and method for handling a strand.

Another object is to provide a new and improved apparatus and method forhandling a strand, the strand being supported by a cushion of fluid andmaintained substantially out of contact with the fluid.

Still another object is provision of new and improved strand handlingapparatus and method in which a receiver for a strand is retained formovement in opposite directions and, responsive to a strand beingoperatively urged against the receiver, for movement-in a first of thedirections, with provision for urging the receiver in the other of thedirections, and provision for programming the response of the receiverto the strand. Related objects include: provision for programming theresponse of the receiver by controlling the rate at which the receiverresponds to variations in the force with which the strand is urgedagainst the receiver; provision for supporting the receiver on a fluidbed and programming the receiver by venting the fluid about the receiverand substantially out of contact with the strand.

A further object is provision of new and improved strand handlingapparatus including a base with opposed spaced apart members extendingin the same general direction from the base, and a receiver for thestrand mounted between the members for movement toward and awayfrom thebase and, responsive to the strand being urged against the receiver, formovement toward the base, and further including provision for urging thereceiver away from the base. Related objects include: provision of anoutlet proximate the base for the passage of fluid against the receiverto urge the receiver away from the base; provision for relief of thefluid about the receiver and substantially out of contact with thestrand; provision for low frictional drag between the receiver and thestrand as the strand is advanced across the receiver; and provision forprogramming the response of the receiver to variations in the forcewhich the strand exerts against the receiver.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional views taken generally along thelines 2-2 and 33, respectively, in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views, similar to FIG. 3 butto a reduced scale, each illustrating other embodiments of theinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 2 but to a reduced scale ofanother embodiment of the invention.

As shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 of the drawing, a guide 10 for astrand 12 of yarn has a body 14 with a base 16 and extending therefrom apair of opposed members 18 between which the strand 12 is axiallyadvanced. The body 14 may be formed as a two-part unit, each part 20including half of the base 16 and one of the members 18. The parts 20are clamped together as by a hollow threaded stud 22 extending throughthe base 16 and carrying a washer 24 (FIG. 3) between a head 26 (FIG. 3)and an outer face of one of the parts 20, with a nut 28 on the threadedand closed end of the stud 22 tightly clamped against a washer 30 and anouter face of the other part 20. As illustrated in the drawing, the studhead 26 is in the form of a closed end of a hollow compensator arm 32having an opposite end secured to a journalled shaft (not shown) of aspeed control mechanism (not shown) and having a connector (not shown)at the shaft end for the flow of a suitable compress fluid, such as air,through the arm 32 and into the hollow stud 22.

The inner portions of the parts 20 are formed to provide a chamber 34(FIGS. 2 and 3) in the base 16. Radial passages 36 (FIGS. 2 and 3)through the stud 22 provide an outlet for the air into the chamber 34.From the chamber 34 the air passes into an enlarged recess 38 formed inthe parts 20 and opening through opposed inner faces 40 of the twomembers 18. The air engages a strand receiver 42 (FIGS. 2 and 3) whichis movably retained (such as pivotally or freely slidably retained)between the members 18 for movement toward and away from the base 16. Inthe illustrated embodiment the receiver 42 is pivotally retained and tothis end, one end of the receiver 42 has an eye receiving a pivot pin 44retained in apertures in the parts 20. Thus, the receiver 42 may move inopposite directions toward and away from the base 16.

The advancing strand of yarn 12 is positioned between the opposedmembers 18 and is seated in a groove 46 in the receiver 42. The strand12 preferably passes about guide and sealing pins 48 (FIGS. 1 and 2)seated in the parts 20 outwardly of opposite ends of the receiver 42.The surface of the groove 46 preferably has a low co-efficient ofrunning friction relative to the advancing strand 12. For example if thestrand is glass fiber the groove surface may be carbon, and if theadvancing strand is undrawn dacron, nylon, or acetate, the groovesurface may be aluminum oxide or titanium dioxide.

As the tension of the strand 12 increases, the force of the strandagainst the receiver pivots the receiver 42 toward the base 16. As thetension of the strand decreases, the receiver is pivoted outwardly awayfrom the base and toward the free ends of the opposed members 18 by theair within the recess 38. In order to substantially prevent the air fromremoving emulsion or other coating from the strand of yarn, or fromentangling filaments of a multifilament strand, the receiver 42 extendssubstantially across the entire fluid passage between the pins 48 andthe air is vented from the recess 38 and flows generally between thereceiver 42 and the members 18 and substantially out of contact with thestrand of yarn which is protected within a groove which face away fromthe base 16 and downstream of the venting fluid.

In order to provide various desired responses of the receiver 42 tovariations in tension of the strand 12, which results in a force urgingthe strand against the receiver, a relief passage may be provided in oneof the parts 20, or relief passages 50 (FIGS. 2 and 3) may be providedin both of the parts 20, as illustrated. The passages open into theassociated. recesses 38, and below the recesses 38 they open through theinner faces 40 of the members. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3the passages 50 diverge in a direction from the base 16 toward thereceiver 42 and the free ends of the members 18, and the opening betweenthe inner edges 52 (FIG. 3) of the receiver 42 and the walls of passages50 increases as the receiver 42 moves downwardly so that the rate ofventing of the air pressure acting on the inner face 54 (FIGS. 2 and 3)of the receiver increases as the yarn tension decreases and the receivermoves outwardly toward the free ends of the members 18.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 4-7, the same reference numerals as in theembodiment of FIGS. 1-3 are used to indicate features which aresubstantially the same as in FIGS. 1-3. In FIG. 4 passages 56, in lieuof passages 50 in FIGS. 1-3, converge in a direction from the base 16toward the receiver 42 andthe free ends of the members 18 and the rateof venting of the air decreases between the walls of the passages 50 andouter edges 58 of the receiver 42 as the receiver moves away from thebase 16, so that the air pressure urging the receiver outwardlyincreases as the tension of the strand of yarn 12 decrease. In FIG. 5arcuate concave passages 60, in lieu of the previously noted passages 50or 56, provide both diverging and converging portions in a directionfrom the base 16 toward the receiver 42 and the free ends of the members18. The (upper diverging portions 62 coact with the upper edges 52 ofthe receiver 42 and the (lower) converging portions 64 coact with theouter edges 58 of the receiver 42 so a fluctuating rate of venting ofthe air pressure first increases and then decreases as the receiver 42moves toward the free ends of the members 18. Thus, the air pressureagainst the inner face 54 of the receiver first decreases and thenincreases as the tension of the strand decreases. In FIG. 6 a uniformrate of venting of the air pressure acting on the inner face 54 of thereceiver 42 is provided by flat, parallel opposed faces 66 of therecesses 38 and the opposed parallel sides of the receiver 42 or,altemately, uniform cross-sectional passages (not shown) may be providedin lieu of the previously noted passages.

The receiver 42 is preferably as light as possible to hold its momentumas low as possible as it moves toward and awayv from the base 16 of theguide 10, so that it is as sensitive as possible to variations in yarntension. It should also be noted that by provision of the abovedescribed receiver 42, the guide body I4 need not be adjustable to varythe spacing between the opposed members 18 for most changes in yarndenier or diameter.

With reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a receiver 70, in lieuof the receiver 42, is slidably retained in a large recess 72 (whichincludes the previously described chamber 34 and recess 38) in the baseparts 20. The receiver 70 is generally U-shaped with parallel legs 74closely slidably retained between pairs of opposed surfaces 76 and 78(only one visible). A relief passage or passages may be provided, in anysuitable form as previously described. As illustrated in FIG. 7, reliefpassages 50 (only one visible) are provided.

While this invention has been described with reference to particularembodiments in a particular environment, various changes may be apparentto one skilled in the art and the invention is therefore not to belimited to such embodiments or environment, except as set forth in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. Strand control mechanism for guiding an advancing strand comprising,a member having a confined area defining a strand passageway therein,said passageway opening outwardly from said member to provide a free endof said passageway, said passageway being wider than said strand topermit free advance of the strand therethrough, inlet means opening intosaid passageway at a location spaced from said free end and operable toemit pressurized fluid toward said free end, strand engaging meanspositioned in said passageway intermediate said inlet means and saidfree end, said strand engaging means having a first surface toward saidinlet means against which the pressurized fluid is directed and a secondsurface on the opposite side of the strand engaging means over whichsaid strand moves during its advance through said passageway, meansmounting said strand engaging means for movement in a zone intermediatesaid inlet means and said free end, said strand engaging means beingbiased toward said inlet means in response to tension in the advancingstrand and said strand engaging means being biased toward said free endin response to said pressurized fluid, and means cooperable with saidstrand engaging means for defining a venting passage for controlledrelease of said pressurized fluid from said zone to thereby control thebiasing force of said pressurized fluid on said strand engaging means.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means cooperable withsaid strand engaging means for defining said venting passage includes atleast one wall area in said passageway spaced a predetermined distancefrom said strand engaging means.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said wall area is elongatedand is of varying depths in a direction from said inlet means to saidfree end to thereby provide a venting passage of varying size as saidstrand engaging means moves progressively toward said free end.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said wall area is elongatedand increases in depth in a direction from said inlet means to said freeend to thereby provide a venting passage of increasing size as saidstrand engaging means moves progressively toward said free end.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said wall area is elongatedand decreases in depth in a direction from said inlet means to said freeend to thereby provide a venting passage of decreasing size as saidstrand engaging means moves progressively toward said free end. I

6. Apparatus as set'forth in claim 2 wherein said strand engaging meansis an elongated element, and said mounting means includes pivot meansengageable with one end of the element to permit said element to rockabout said pivot means in said zone. 1

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said strand engaging meansis an elongated element and said zone includes a recess in which saidelement is freely slidable.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member is mounted onan arm, said arm including a conduit for delivering the pressurizedfluid to said fluid emitting means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member includes a pairof guides fixed in juxtaposed relationship, said passageway beingbetween said guides, said guides being joined together at respectivefirst ends to define a base of the member, said inlet means beinglocated in said base.

10. Strand control mechanism for guiding an advancing strand comprising,a pair of guides fixed together at first ends thereof to define a baseof the mechanism and having a con-. fined strand passageway between saidguides through which said strand is advanced, said guides beingunconnected at respective second ends thereof to provide a free end ofthe passageway, inlet means opening into said passageway from a positionproximate said base and operating to direct a fluid stream toward saidfree end, strand engaging means positioned in said passagewayintermediate said base and said free end, said strand engaging meanshaving a first surface toward said inlet means against which the fluidstream is directed and a second surface on the opposite side from saidfirst surface over which the strand moves during its advance throughsaid passageway, means mounting the strand engaging means for movementin a restricted zone in said passageway, and side walls in said zonespaced from and confronting opposite sides of said strand engaging meansto provide a clearance space between said sidewalls and said oppositesides for the passage of fluid from said inlet means during advance ofthe strand over said strand engaging means.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim including means for preventingmovement of said strand engaging means out of said free end.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said fluid stream ispressurized air.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said side walls areelongated and are of varying depths in a direction from said inlet meansto said free end.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said side walls areelongated and increase in depth in a direction from said inlet means tosaid free end.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said side walls areelongated and decrease in depth in a direction from said inlet means tosaid free end.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said strand engagingmeans is an elongated element, and said mounting means includes pivotmeans engageable with one end of the element to permit said element torock about said pivot means in said zone.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said strand engagingmeans is an elongated element, and said zone defines a recess in whichsaid element is freely slidable.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said guides are mountedon an elongated arm, said arm including a conduit for delivering thepressurized fluid to the fluid emitting means.

1. Strand control mechanism for guiding an advancing strand comprising,a member having a confined area defining a strand passageway therein,said passageway opening outwardly from said member to provide a free endof said passageway, said passageway being wider than said strand topermit free advance of the strand therethrough, inlet means opening intosaid passageway at a location spaced from said free end and operable toemit pressurized fluid toward said free end, strand engaging meanspositioned in said passageway intermediate said inlet means and saidfree end, said strand engaging means having a first surface toward saidinlet means against which the pressurized fluid is directed and a secondsurface on the opposite side of the strand engaging means over whichsaid strand moves during its advance through said passageway, meansmounting said strand engaging means for movement in a zone intermediatesaid inlet means and said free end, said strand engaging means beingbiased toward said inlet means in response to tension in the advancingstrand and said strand engaging means being biased toward said free endin response to said pressurized fluid, and means cooperable with saidstrand engaging means for defining a venting passage for controlledrelease of said pressurized fluid from said zone to thereby control thebiasing force of said pressurized fluid on said strand engaging means.2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means cooperable withsaid strand engaging means for defining said venting passage includes atleast one wall area in said passageway spaced a predetermined distancefrom said strand engaging means.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2wherein said wall area is elongated and is of varying depths in adirection from said inlet means to said free end to thereby provide aventing passage of varying size as said strand engaging means movesprogressively toward said free end.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2wherein saId wall area is elongated and increases in depth in adirection from said inlet means to said free end to thereby provide aventing passage of increasing size as said strand engaging means movesprogressively toward said free end.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2wherein said wall area is elongated and decreases in depth in adirection from said inlet means to said free end to thereby provide aventing passage of decreasing size as said strand engaging means movesprogressively toward said free end.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2wherein said strand engaging means is an elongated element, and saidmounting means includes pivot means engageable with one end of theelement to permit said element to rock about said pivot means in saidzone.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said strand engagingmeans is an elongated element and said zone includes a recess in whichsaid element is freely slidable.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1wherein said member is mounted on an arm, said arm including a conduitfor delivering the pressurized fluid to said fluid emitting means. 9.Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member includes a pair ofguides fixed in juxtaposed relationship, said passageway being betweensaid guides, said guides being joined together at respective first endsto define a base of the member, said inlet means being located in saidbase.
 10. Strand control mechanism for guiding an advancing strandcomprising, a pair of guides fixed together at first ends thereof todefine a base of the mechanism and having a confined strand passagewaybetween said guides through which said strand is advanced, said guidesbeing unconnected at respective second ends thereof to provide a freeend of the passageway, inlet means opening into said passageway from aposition proximate said base and operating to direct a fluid streamtoward said free end, strand engaging means positioned in saidpassageway intermediate said base and said free end, said strandengaging means having a first surface toward said inlet means againstwhich the fluid stream is directed and a second surface on the oppositeside from said first surface over which the strand moves during itsadvance through said passageway, means mounting the strand engagingmeans for movement in a restricted zone in said passageway, and sidewalls in said zone spaced from and confronting opposite sides of saidstrand engaging means to provide a clearance space between saidsidewalls and said opposite sides for the passage of fluid from saidinlet means during advance of the strand over said strand engagingmeans.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 including means forpreventing movement of said strand engaging means out of said free end.12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said fluid stream ispressurized air.
 13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein saidside walls are elongated and are of varying depths in a direction fromsaid inlet means to said free end.
 14. Apparatus as set forth in claim10 wherein said side walls are elongated and increase in depth in adirection from said inlet means to said free end.
 15. Apparatus as setforth in claim 10 wherein said side walls are elongated and decrease indepth in a direction from said inlet means to said free end. 16.Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said strand engaging means isan elongated element, and said mounting means includes pivot meansengageable with one end of the element to permit said element to rockabout said pivot means in said zone.
 17. Apparatus as set forth in claim10 wherein said strand engaging means is an elongated element, and saidzone defines a recess in which said element is freely slidable. 18.Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said guides are mounted on anelongated arm, said arm including a conduit for delivering thepressurized fluid to the fluid emitting means.